Safety net



IVEN

L. E. KOTHE May 2, 1933.

SAFETY NET Filed March 23, 1932 Patented May 2, 1933 i UNrrE STATES tamis@ LOUIS EUGEN KOTHE, F ENGLEWOOD, JERSEY SAFETY NET VApplication led March 23, 1932. Serial No. 600,632.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements ina safety net for window cleaners and others. v

The present application is a further development of the subject matter for which I led an application for Letters Patent on July 3, 1931, Serial No. 548,600.

The invention has for an object the construction of a safety net which is characterized by net material and means for holding this net materialoutside of a window or around a scaffold or otherarticle from which a person may fall and needs protection.

As a still further object it is proposed to provide meanswhereby the safety net may be readily applied. A

Furthermore, the invention proposes the provision whereby the safety net is held slightly away Vfrom the window soas not cleaner.

A still further vobject of this invention is the provision of hinged elements arranged at the sides. of the safety netto hold itY in its projected position and to allowsome degree of folding so that it may easily be taken in from the outside of a window.

A still further object of this invention is the construction of a device of the class described which is of simple durable construction, dependable in use and efficient in operation and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invenf tion, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing7 and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. I

In the accompanying drawing forming material part of. this disclosure Fig. 1 is an outside view of a window equipped for receiving a safety net according 45 to this invention.

to interfere with the work of the windowv v ends of the sideiportions 10.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view show.- ing a safety net applied upon the window in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of' one of the screws used in attaching the safety net upon the window. V l

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of one of the catches from the safety` net adapted to engage the screw. i Fig. 5 is a perspective inside view of the safety net.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on. the line 6-.6 of Fig. 5. i

Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 isa sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view similar to a portion of Fig. 7 but illustrating a modification.

Fig. 10 isla sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Figl 9.

Fig. 11 is van end elevational view locking in the direction of the line 117-11 of Fig. 9.

The safety net, according to this inven-l tionpcomprises a back portion 10 for eX- 70 tending across a window 10a or scaffold or the like and connected at the sides with side portions 11. rlhe bottom is closed by a por tion 12 from which a small strip portion 13 extends slightly up along the front. A bar 14 is attached along the top edge of the flap portion 13 to reinforce it and prevent the possibility of this area leaving the building when attached in place to prevent the hazard of one falling between the net and the building. A back bar 15 is extended across the top of the back portion 11. Side bars l'are hingedly connected upon the ends of the back bar 15 and serve to carry the upper A means is provided for latching the safety net in place uponka window and ccmprises a plurality of eye screws 17 engaged around the window, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.- Complementary snap hooks 18 are at- 90 Vso tached along the edges of the sides 11 and upon the upper edge of the flap 13 for coaction with the eye screws 17 to accomplish the attachment. A head loop 19 is attached upon the bar 15 and is for the purpose of allowing a person to place the loop over the head and thus support, the net outside of the window preparatory to attaching it in place, or before detaching it.

Each of the side bars 16 supports a stem 20 projecting from the free ends and formed into heads 21. Springs 22 within cavities in the bars 16 act against ianges 23 normally to urge the stems 20 outwards. rIhe stems 2O are in lineV with openings 24k formed in the back bar 15so that when the heads 21 are depressed the bars 16 are latched against closing. K

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11, a modifiedl arrangement has been disclosed in which the side bars16 are reinforced with front members 25. These front members are kept in position by bars 26 secured between the bars 16 and the members 25. Along the lengths of the members 25 there lis formed a plurality of bayonet catch slots 26 which are adapted to Vengage complementary screw heads projecting from the window frame so lthat the front bars 25 are detachably held in place when the safety net is placed outside ofa window. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the one just described. Each of the bars is provided with stems 20 having outside heads 21 and adapted to engage into openings 24 formed in the back bar 15 which in this particular case is shown to be an angle iron. The bars 16 are hingedly connected upon the angle iron, as clearly shown on the dra-wing so that they may assume extended positions at right angles to the back of thesafety net or be folded against the back.

The operation of the invention consists in its attachment upon the outside of a window or the like. The window cleaner opens the upper sash of the window and places the safety net through it. IIe has the loop 19 around his neck so as not to drop the safety net. Then he attaches the uppermost snap catches 18 upon the eye screws 17. After this preliminary attachment the sashesare opened from the bottom and the attachment is completed by securing all ofthe catches 18 upon all of the eye'screwsY 17. It should be noted that then the net is securely held at the sides and at the bottom and it is safe for the person to step out upon the window sill and clean the windows.

To facilitate the placing of the net through the window the bars 16 may be hinged closed against'the back of the net, as indicated in Fig. 7. Normally, the bars 16 are free to be hinged but when they assume positions at right angles to the back and the safety net is attached upon a window the heads 21 will be depressed due to the attachment and cause the standards 2O to enter the openings 24 and thus hold the bars 16 in their open positions.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 9-11, when the front members 25 are connected upon the outside of the window by reason of screw heads passing through the openings 26, the heads 21 will automatically be depressed to hold the bars 16 from closing.

The safety net can also be used on scalfolds, also by brick layers, masons, plasterers, carpenters, painters, glaciers and others who have to work outside of a building.

While I have shown and described the Vand others, net material having a back portion for extending across a window, scaffold and the like, side portions connected therewith, a bottom portion connected across the backportion and side portions and having a front lapel extending slightly upwards, a back bar acrossV the top edge ofthe front lapel, and side bars and said back Vbar liin-gedly connected, said back vbar being secured upon the top of the back portion and the side bars on the tops ofsaid side portions.

2. In a vsafety. net .for window cleaners and others, net material having a back portion for extending across a' window, scaffold and the like, side portions connected therewith, abottom portion connected across the back portion and side portions and having a front lapel extending slightly upwards, a backbar across they top edge'of the front lapel, sidebars and said backy bar hingedly connected, said back bar beingy se-` cured upon the top of the back portion and the side bars on the tops of' said side portions,

means for latching the net upon the outside of a window and means'for latching said side bars against pivoting closed when the front ends of the side bars rest against the wall.

i 3. A safety net for window Vcleaners and others, comprising net material having a back portion for extending across a window,

scaffold and the like, side portions connected therewith, a bottomv portion connected across the back portion and side portions and having a front lapel extending slightly upwards, a back bar across the top edge of the front lapel, side bars and said back bar hingedly connected, said back bar being secured upon the top of the back portion and the side bars on the tops of said side portions, means for latching the net upon the outside of a window, and means for latching said side bars against pivoting closed when the front ends of the side'bars rest against the wall, comprising projecting stems with heads resiliently urged outwards and depressible to engage openings in said back bar and thus prevent pivoting.

4. In a safety net for window cleaners and others, net material having a back portion for Vextending across a window, scatfold and the like, side portions connected therewith, a bottom portion connected across the back portion and side portions and having a front lapel extending slightly upwards, a back bar across the top edge of the front lapel, side bars and said back bar hingedly connected, said back bar being secured upon the top of the back portion and the sideV bars on the tops of said side portions, and a .head loop attached upon said back bar so that thesafety net may be suspended from the neck of a person.

5. A safety net for window cleaners and others, comprising net material having a back portion for extending across a window, scaffold and the like, side portions connected therewith, a bottom portion connected across the back portion and side portions and having a front lapel extending slightly upwards, a back bar across the top edge of the front lapel, side bars and said back bar hingedly connected, said back bar being secured upon the top of the back portion and the side bars on the tops of said side portions, and means for latching the net upon the outside of a window, front members being attached at right angles to the side bars, braces connected between the side bars and said front members to form a rigid construction, and said front members being formed with bayonet openingsto 'en gage the heads of screws upon the window frame for aiding and holding the safety net in place.

6. A safety net for window cleaners and others, comprising net material having a back portion Jfor extending across a window scaffold and the like, side portions connected therewith, a bottom portion connected across the back portion and side portions and having a front lapel extending slightly upwards, a back bar across the top edge of the front lapel, side bars and said back bar hingedly connected, said back bar being secured upon the top of the back portion and the side bars on the tops of said side portions, means for latching the net upon the outside of a window, and means for latching said side bars against pivoting closed when the front ends of the side bars In testimony whereof I- have aixed my 'Y signature.

LOUIS EUGEN KOTHE.y 

